The global information society could become thebasis for a socially and environmentally sustainableeconomic growth model, promoting democracy worldwide,provided that access to information and knowledge remainsopen and is even expanded. The Greens fight all attempts to further privatise the internet and to limit knowledge transferthrough excessive patent rights. As first steps, Greens want the non-commercial use of the internet to remainprincipally exempted from all sanctions andtheEuropean Patent Office to be turned into an institution of the European Community.